Plate material packing box, plate material transporting method, and plate material loading or unloading method

ABSTRACT

A plate material packing box capable of preventing dirt from entering thereinto, easily storable in a storage room with a low ceiling by reducing the height dimension during transportation, and capable of transporting plate materials efficiently and constantly; a plate material transporting method using such a plate material packing box; and a plate material loading or unloading method. The packing box comprises a pedestal  3  having an upper lining, a plate material storage box  14  put on the pedestal  3 , and an upper cover  2  enclosing the plate material storage box  14  on the pedestal  3  and being detachable from the pedestal  3 , wherein the plate material storage box  14  is an upwardly open support having a bottom plate  15  to have a plurality of plate materials G put thereon in a substantially horizontally stacked state, and side plate  16   a  to  16   d  along four sides of its periphery, the upper cover  2  is a downwardly open box having a top plate  6  covering the upper surface of the plate material storage box  14  and side frames  5  along four sides of its periphery; a vibration damper  17  is interposed between the pedestal  3  and the bottom plate  5 ; and a cushion material  20  is installed between the top plate  6  and the plate materials G put on the bottom plate  15 .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plate material packing box designedto pack plate materials, particularly large size plate materials fore.g. flat panel display (FPD) i.e. liquid crystal display or plasmadisplay, or large size plate materials as intermediate products in theprocess for their production, and to be unpacked after thetransportation; a plate material transporting method using such a platematerial packing box; a plate material loading method; and a platematerial unloading method.

2. Discussion of Background

In recent years, there has been an increasing need for large size plateglass to be used for e.g. FPD glass. As a means to transport such largesize plate glass, a packing rack is known wherein a plurality of plateglass are secured in a vertically standing state (e.g. Patent Document1).

However, with this packing rack, the plate glass is transported in astanding state, and it sometimes happens that in the case of airtransportation, the height dimension is so large (e.g. at least 2 m)that it cannot be smoothly stored in a storage room in an airplane.

Further, in a case where plate glass is transported in a standing state,in order to secure the stability of the packing box, the dimension ofone side of bottom surface is made large (for example, 0.5 time theheight of the packing box). However, in a clean room in which aproduction of display panels is carried out, the weight to betransportable by a forklift, is restricted. Therefore, the number ofplate glass to be put on one packing box is restricted. Therefore, thevolume and weight of the packing box increases against the number ofplate glass which can be put thereon, whereby the transportationefficiency decreases.

Further, heretofore, it has been common to transport plate glass in abare state or in a state covered with a plastic bag. Therefore, due topenetration of dust, etc. the plate glass surface tends to get dirty oris likely to be scratched. Further, in a case where plastic bags, etc.are used, it is necessary to separately prepare such plastic bags, thusincreasing the number of components required for packing and making thepreparation operation for transportation or the operation for taking outthe plate glass after transportation cumbersome.

The foregoing description has been made with respect to plate glass butthe same applies also to plate materials such as resin plates or metalplates.

Patent Document: JP-A-2000-272684

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above-describedsituation, and it is an object of the present invention to provide aplate material packing box capable of preventing dust from entering intothe packing box, easily storable in a storage room with a low ceiling byreducing the height dimension during transportation, and capable ofcarrying out transportation of plate materials efficiently andconstantly, a plate material transporting method using such a platematerial packing box, and a plate material loading or unloading method.

To accomplish the above object, the present invention provides thefollowing plate material packing box, plate material transporting methodusing such a plate material packing box, and plate material loading orunloading method.

(1) A plate material packing box comprising a pedestal having an upperlining, a plate material storage box put on the pedestal, and an uppercover enclosing the plate material storage box on the pedestal and beingdetachable from the pedestal, wherein the plate material storage box isan upwardly open support having a bottom plate to have a plurality ofplate materials put thereon in a substantially horizontally stackedstate, and side plates along four sides of its periphery; the uppercover is a downwardly open box having a top plate covering the uppersurface of the plate material storage box and side frames along foursides of its periphery; a vibration damper is interposed between thepedestal and the bottom plate; and a cushion material is installedbetween the top plate and the plate materials put on the bottom plate.

According to the above plate material packing box, a vibration damper isprovided between the pedestal and the bottom plate, and a cushionmaterial is further provided between the top plate and the platematerials, whereby the plate materials can be transported in astabilized state where a vibration from the exterior is scarcelytransmitted to the plate materials. Further, this plate material packingbox is based on the premise that plate materials are transported in ahorizontally flatly stacked state, and as compared with the conventionalvertical type transportation mode, sufficient loading efficiency can beprovided to a conveying means, and even in a case where the ceiling ofthe storage section of the conveying means is low, an interference withthe ceiling is less likely to occur.

Further, the plate material storage box will be covered from above andbelow by the upper lining of the pedestal, and the side frames and thetop plate of the upper cover, whereby deposition of foreign matters suchas dust on the plate materials can be prevented.

(2) A plate material packing box comprising a pedestal having an upperlining, a plate material storage box put on the pedestal, side framesfixed along the periphery of the plate material storage box on thepedestal, and an upper cover detachable from the side frames, whereinthe plate material storage box is an upwardly open support having abottom plate to have a plurality of plate materials put thereon in asubstantially horizontally stacked state, and a side plate providedalong one side of its periphery; the upper cover is a top plate coveringthe upper surface of the plate material storage box; a vibration damperis interposed between the pedestal and the bottom plate; and a cushionmaterial is installed between the top plate and the plate materials puton the bottom plate.

According to the above plate material packing box, the side frames arefixed to the pedestal side, and the top plate being the upper cover isdetachable from the side frames and is openable or closable at the timeof loading or unloading the plate materials, whereby three side platesof the plate material storage box are omitted to make the constructionsimple, and at the same time, a cushion material may be provided betweenthe above-mentioned side frames and the plate materials corresponding tothe omitted side plates along three sides, whereby the plate materialscan be held stably on the bottom plate.

(3) The plate material packing box according to the above (1) or (2),wherein the bottom plate is formed to have a rectangular shape andinclined at a prescribed angle to the upper surface of the pedestal withone or two corners thereof being at the lowest point.

According to the above construction, the bottom plate is inclined at aprescribed angle to the upper surface of the pedestal with one or twocorners thereof being at the lowest point, whereby the positions ofindividual plate materials on the bottom plate can be settled on thelowest point side, and displacement among the plate materials can beprevented. Here, the number of corners to be the lowest point ispreferably one from such a viewpoint that the positions of a pluralityof plate glass can be thereby readily aligned.

(4) The plate material packing box according to any one of the above (1)to (3), wherein the bottom plate has a surface curved in a concave shapeto have the plate materials put thereon.

When the surface of the bottom plate on which the plate materials are tobe put, is formed as curved in a concave shape in this manner, the platematerials sagged in a concave shape by flat stacking, will be heldstably on the concave surface of the bottom plate, and displacement canbe prevented against vibration in a transverse direction, and astabilized packing state can be maintained.

(5) The plate material packing box according to any one of the above (1)to (3), wherein the bottom plate is downwardly curved or bent in aconvex shape.

When the surface of the bottom plate on which the plate materials are tobe put, is formed as downwardly curved or bent in a convex shape in thismanner, the plate materials sagged in a concave shape by flat stacking,will be held stably along the bottom plate, and displacement can beprevented even against vibration in a transverse direction, and astabilized packing state can be maintained.

(6) The plate material packing box according to any one of the above (1)to (5), which has a positioning means to set the position of anotherplate material packing box to be put on the top plate, wherein thepositioning means comprises a plurality of guide members projectingupwardly from the top plate and fixed to the top plate, and a pluralityof openings formed at the pedestal to engage with such guide members.

The plate material packing box is thus provided with the positioningmeans between the packing boxes, whereby displacement among a pluralityof plate material packing boxes in a flatly stacked state will beeliminated. Further, as the positioning means, a plurality of guidemembers projecting upwardly from the top plate and fixed to the topplate, and a plurality of openings formed on the pedestal to engage withthe guide members, are provided, whereby in a state where a plurality offlat material packing boxes are flatly stacked, the openings of eachplate material packing box (except for the packing box at the lowestposition) are engaged with guide members of a plate material packing boxlocated beneath, whereby the packing boxes will be supported in astabilized state.

(7) A plate material transporting method which comprises stacking aplurality of plate materials in the plate material storage box of theplate material packing box as defined in any one of the above (1) to (6)and transporting the plate materials.

The plate materials are thus transported in such a state that aplurality of plate materials are stacked in the plate material storagebox of the plate material packing box, whereby many large size platematerials can be transported all at once in a package low in height in astabilized state.

(8) A plate material loading or unloading method which comprises, insuch a state that the upper cover of the plate material packing box asdefined in any one of the above (1) to (6) is removed, lifting the platematerial packing box so that the bottom plate be at a prescribed angleto the horizontal plane, and loading a plurality of plate materials inthe plate material storage box or unloading such plate materials fromthe plate material storage box.

Thus, in such a state that the upper cover of the plate material packingbox is removed, the plate material packing box is lifted so that thebottom plate be at a prescribed angle to the horizontal plane, and platematerials are then loaded, whereby the plate materials can be easilyloaded. Likewise, by lifting the plate material packing box so that thebottom plate be at a prescribed angle to the horizontal plane andunloading the plate materials from the plate material storage box, it ispossible to easily take out the plate materials.

(9) A plate material packing box comprising a pedestal having an upperlining, a plate material storage box put on the pedestal, and avibration damper interposed between the pedestal and the plate materialstorage box, wherein

the plate material storage box comprises a rectangular bottom plate tohave a plurality of plate materials put thereon in a horizontallystacked state, side plates provided along mutually opposing two sides ofthe bottom plate and inserting paper hold-down rolls provided alongother mutually opposing two sides of the bottom plate;

the bottom plate is downwardly curved or bent in a convex shape, and thebending line at the apex of the bent surface or the generating line ofthe curved surface is in parallel with the side plates;

the pedestal is provided with a positioning means for stacking platematerial packing boxes.

According to the above plate material packing box, the portionsprotruding from the edges of the plate materials, of the protectiveinserting paper sheets covering the respective upper surfaces of thestacked plate materials, are held down to the bottom plate and securedby the inserting paper hold-down rolls, whereby the plate materials arecertainly secured on the bottom plate via the inserting paper sheets,and vibration on the bottom plate will be suppressed. Accordingly, acushion material or an upper cover to cover the top surface of thestacked plate materials will be unnecessary, and the number ofcomponents can be reduced, whereby the construction will be simplified,and at the same time, the size and weight reduction can be attained.

Further, the bottom plate is downwardly curved or bent in a convex shapeor in a V-shape, whereby the plate materials put on the bottom platewill be prevented from displacement in an oblique direction to thebottom plate by vibration, and the plate materials can further certainlybe secured.

Further, the pedestal is provided with a positioning means, whereby itis possible to certainly position the stacked boxes and to preventdisplacement even without the upper cover.

(10) The plate material packing box according to the above (9), whereinthe side plates are provided along the long sides of the bottom plate;one side plate is fixed to the bottom plate; and the other side plate isrotatably or separably hinged to the bottom plate so that the sideprovided with this side plate is openable and closable.

Thus, the side plates are provided along the long sides, whereby thebottom plate will be curved or bent along the short sides of the bottomplate. Accordingly, the displacement in the height direction of thebottom plate due to the bending or curvature will be small, and theshape of the storage box will be compact.

Further, by rotating or separating one side plate to open the side platesurface, the plate materials on the bottom plate can efficiently andsmoothly be withdrawn from the opened side surface, whereby theoperation efficiency for loading or unloading the plate materials willbe improved.

(11) The plate material packing box according to the above (9), whereinstacking members consisting of pillars or walls are installed on thepedestal around the plate material storage box, and the positioningmeans comprises guide members provided at upper ends of the stackingmembers and openings provided on the bottom surface side of the pedestalto engage with the guide members.

According to such a plate material packing box, when such packing boxesare stacked, the upper packing box will be supported on the lowerpacking box by the stacking members consisting of pillars or wallsinstalled on the peripheral portion of the pedestal. At that time, theguide members provided at the upper ends of the stacking members of thelower packing box will fit in the openings provided on the lower surfaceof the pedestal of the upper packing box, whereby positioning can simplyand certainly be carried out by such a simple structure, anddisplacement can be prevented.

(12) The plate material packing box according to the above (9), whereinthe vibration damper comprises a stretch absorber and a shrink absorber,and the stretch absorber and the shrink absorber are provided asregularly distributed over the entire lower surface of the bottom plate.

By such a construction, when the bottom plate on the pedestal isvibrated up and down to the pedestal, it is possible to separate thetensile side and the compression side respectively so that the vibrationcan be absorbed by the stretch absorber and the shrink absorber,respectively. Accordingly, the attachment structure for the vibrationdamper made of a spring or an elastic body may be made to be a structurewherein only either the tensile force or the compression force will act.The vibration damper can thereby be certainly secured to the pedestaland bottom plate, and it is thereby possible to prevent peeling orfalling which is likely to occur with the attaching structure where boththe tensile force and compression will act.

(13) A plate material transporting method which comprises stacking aplurality of plate materials in the plate material storage box of theplate material packing box as defined in any one of the above (9) to(12) and transporting the plate materials.

Thus, the plurality of plate materials on the bottom plate of the platematerial storage box are transported in a state where they arehorizontally stacked, whereby many plate materials can be transportedall at once in a package low in height. A remarkable effect can beobtained particularly when such a construction is applied to large sizeplate materials.

(14) A plate material packing box comprising a pedestal having an upperlining, a plate material storage box put on the pedestal, and avibration damper interposed between the pedestal and the plate materialstorage box, wherein

the plate material storage box comprises a rectangular bottom plate tohave a plurality of plate materials put thereon in a horizontallystacked state via inserting paper sheets, and hold-down plates areprovided along the respective four sides of the bottom plate to pressthe plate materials from their side surfaces via inserting paper sheetsprotruding from the plate materials.

According to the above plate material packing box, the plate materialsput horizontally on the bottom plate are pressed by the hold-down platesprovided along the respective four sides of the bottom plate, via theinserting paper sheets protruding from the respective side surfaces,whereby the plate materials can certainly be held down and securedwithout direct contact with the plate materials, while the side surfacesof the plate materials are protected by the inserting paper sheets.

(15) The plate material packing box according to the above (14), whereineach hold-down plate is detachable from the bottom plate or openable asit falls down outside of the bottom plate.

According to the above plate material packing box, each hold-down plateis detachable from the bottom plate or hinged to be openable andclosable, whereby the side surfaces of the plate materials will be opento facilitate the operation for loading or unloading.

(16) The plate material packing box according to the above (14), whereina cushion material is provided between the inserting paper sheets andthe hold-down plates.

According to the above plate material packing box, the hold-down plateswill hold down the inserting paper sheets via the cushion material,whereby the side surfaces of the plate materials can be uniformly andconstantly pressed and secured along the shape of the inserting papersheets protruding from the side surfaces of the plate materials andbeing overlapped one on another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a plate material packingbox according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the plate material packing box according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the plate material packing box according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a process of engagement ofpacking boxes with each other when plate material packing boxesaccording to the embodiment of the present invention are to be stacked.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a plate material storage box according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along V-V in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the construction of another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the construction of still anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9(A) and (B) are views illustrating the shape of a plate materialstorage box having a recessed bottom plate.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an erection table to let the platematerial packing box according to the embodiment of the presentinvention stand erect.

FIGS. 11(a) and (b) illustrate the use of the erection table in FIG. 6,i.e. FIG. 11(a) shows the posture of the erection table before the platematerial packing box is made to stand erect, and FIG. 11(b) shows theposture of the erection table at the time of loading a plate material toa plate material packing box or at the time of unloading a platematerial from a packing box.

FIG. 12 shows another plate material packing box of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of the platematerial packing box.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a plate material storage box.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a hold-down roll ina state where plate materials are stored.

FIGS. 17(A) and (B) illustrate an embodiment of the vibration damper,i.e. FIG. 17(A) is a cross-sectional view of a shrink absorber, and FIG.17(B) is a cross-sectional view of a stretch absorber.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view illustrating the fitting of a guide memberand an opening.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view wherein plate material packing boxes arestacked.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of another embodiment of the plate materialstorage box.

FIGS. 21(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views illustrating theattachment of a hold-down plate.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of a hold-downplate.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the attachment ofa hold-down plate.

MEANING OF SYMBOLS

1: plate material packing box, 2: upper cover, 3: pedestal, 4: upperlining, 5: side frame, 6: top plate, 7: shock-absorbing pad, 8: guidemember, 9: I-beam frame, 10: lower lining, 11: opening, 12: vibrationabsorbing device, 13: hole for forklift, 14: plate material storage box,15: bottom plate, 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, 16 d: side plates, 17: vibrationdamper, 18: inserting paper sheet, 20: cushion material, 21: erectiontable, 22: large table portion, 23: small table portion, 24: parallelgrooves, 25: cushion material, 31: pillar member, 32: shrink absorber,33: stretch absorber, 34, fixed side plate, 35: movable side plate, 36:hold-down roll, 37: bracket, 38: jell material, 39: metal plate, 40:bolt, 41: bracket, 42: cover, 43: screw, C: chain, D: plate material, S:internal space, 50: hold-down plate, 51: cushion material, 52: pillar,53: pillar bearing, 54: spindle, 55: attaching portion, 56: bracket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the plate material packingbox of the present invention. This embodiment is one applied to largesize plate glass as the plate material G. The plate material packing box(hereinafter referred to as the packing box) 1 is designed to store aplurality (for example, 50 sheets) of plate materials G in asubstantially horizontally stacked state. The packing box 1 comprises apedestal 3, an upper cover 2 put on the pedestal 3, and a plate materialstorage box 14 put on the pedestal 3 within this upper cover 2.

The pedestal 3 is one prepared in such a manner that a plurality ofI-beam frame materials 9 formed by an extruded material made of e.g. analuminum alloy are assembled lengthwise and crosswise in a lattice-likearrangement to form a frame, and on an upper side of this frame, anupper lining 4 is fixed, and on the lower side, a lower lining 10 isfixed.

A plate material storage box (hereinafter referred to as a storage box)14 is put on the upper lining 4 of the pedestal 3 via a vibration damper17. This storage box 14 is an upwardly opened box and comprises arectangular bottom plate 15 and four side plates 16 a to 16 d providedalong the four sides thereof (FIGS. 5 and 6). In this storage box 14, aplurality of plate materials G will be flatly stacked, as will bedescribed hereinafter.

The vibration damper 17 is preferably made of a material capable ofefficiently absorbing a vibration frequency of e.g. from 8 to 20 Hztaking into consideration the vibration frequency resulting in a vehicle(or an airplane) itself during the ground transportation or airtransportation. As such a material, a rubber, a resin or a siliconematerial may, for example, be used.

The upper cover 2 is downwardly opened to enclose the exterior of thestorage box 14 from above and comprises four side frames 5 and a topplate 6. Inside, an internal space s is formed to accommodate platematerials. The side frames 5 may be iron plates or the like, or I-beamframe materials 9 similar to the pedestal 3 may also be used. On thelower side of the top plate 6, a vibration absorbing means such as acushion material (an air bag or an air cylinder) 20 is provided, wherebyplate materials G stacked in the storage box 14 are resiliently secured.

Here, the cushion material 20 may run out of the side plates 16 a to 16d of the storage box 14 so long as it is located between the top plate 6and the plate materials G to resiliently push the plate materials G tosecure them.

FIG. 2 a top view of this packing box 1. The packing box 1 is preferablyrectangular so that it corresponds to the shape of the plate materials Gto be stored. At the time of loading the plate materials into theinterior space S and at the time of unloading the plate materials fromthe internal space S, the upper cover 2 is removed from the pedestal 3by a suitable means such as a manpower or a robot.

When transported to the intended place by e.g. a truck or airplane(hereinafter referred to as a transportation means), packing boxes 1will be stored in a storage room or on a loading platform of thetransportation means in a stacked state. Accordingly, on the top plate 6of the upper cover 2, a plurality of shock absorbing pads (cushioningmaterial) 7 to protect the plate materials are attached at the peripheryof the upper surface thereof in such an assumption that another packingbox will be flatly stacked thereon. Such shock absorbing pads 7 are madeof an elastic material such as a rubber.

At each corner of the top plate 6, a truncated pyramid guide member 8 isfixed on the top plate 6 so that it projects upwards from the shockabsorbing pad 7, for positioning with the upper packing box to be putthereon. Here, the shape of this guide member 8 is not limited to thetruncated pyramid shape, and it may, for example, be a truncated coneshape. The portion of the packing box which engages with the guidemember 8 will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the packing box 1. The I-beam frame materials9 are assembled lengthwise and crosswise in plurality in a lattice-likearrangement to support the storage box 14 stably. Intersections of theI-beam frame materials 9 are integrated by a means such as welding.

The pedestal 3 is constituted by a lattice-like frame composed of theI-beam frame materials 9. The lower lining 10 fixed to the lower surfaceof this pedestal 3 is provided with rectangular openings (guide holes)11 to receive guide members 8 of a packing box 1 stacked below, at therespective corners thereof. On the lower surface of the upper lining 4above the openings 11, shock absorbing devices (shock absorbers) 12 maybe attached to reduce the shock with the guide members 8. Such shockabsorbing devices 12 may, for example, be constituted by air cylinders,rubber dampers or the like, and in a state where the packing boxes arestacked one another, they are provided at such positions that the lowerportions of the shock absorbing devices 12 will abut against the guidemembers 8 of another packing box 1 stacked beneath, entering from belowvia openings 11.

The upper lining 4 is made of e.g. an iron plate and is required inorder to put the storage box 14 stably on the pedestal 3 and to preventdust from entering into the internal space S (FIG. 1) storing the platematerials. The lower lining 10 is likewise made of e.g. an iron plateand is required in order to smoothly transport the packed box 1 by aconveyer such as a roller conveyer. However, if the transportation canbe carried out by e.g. a conveyer without any problem, the lower lining10 may be omitted.

In the lengthwise and crosswise I-beam frame materials 9, holes for aforklift 13 to receive forks of a forklift (not shown) are formed, forexample, two holes per one I-beam frame material 9. It is therebypossible that the packing box 1 may receive forks of a forklift fromeither lengthwise or crosswise direction of the rectangular pedestal.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the state before engagement ofthe guide members 8 with openings 11 and with shock absorbing devices12, when a plurality of packing boxes 1 are to be stacked. In a casewhere another packing box 1 is put on a packing box 1, the upper packingbox 1 is positioned so that the guide members 8 of the lower packing box1 will enter into the openings 11 formed on the lower lining 10, and itis gradually lowered towards the packing box 1 located below. At thattime, the guide members 8 of the lower side packing box 1 will enter theopenings 11 of the upper side packing box 1. As mentioned above, theguide members 8 are formed to have a truncated pyramid shape, and theopenings 11 to receive the guide members are likewise rectangular.Accordingly, even if the guide members 8 and the openings 11 are notaccurately positioned, in the stacking process, side walls of the guidemembers 8 will interfere with the openings 11, so that any displacementin the horizontal direction between the upper side packing box 1 and thelower side packing box 1 will automatically be corrected, wherebyaccurate positioning of the packing boxes to each other can beaccomplished during the stacking (positioning means).

The upper end surfaces of such guide members 8 will abut against thelower end surfaces of the vibration absorbing devices 12 of the abovepacking box 1, whereby a vibration absorbing action in an up-and-downdirection is obtainable in the stacked state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the storage box 14, and FIG. 6 is across-sectional view as viewed from the direction of arrow V in FIG. 5.

This storage box 14 comprises a bottom plate 15 and four side plates 16a to 16 d along its periphery. Plate materials G will be stored in aflatly stacked state in an upwardly opened box comprising this bottomplate 15 and the four side plates 16 a to 16 d. A plurality of vibrationdampers 17 are disposed between the bottom plate 15 and the upper lining4 of the pedestal 3 (FIG. 1) to protect the plate materials G against ashock from the exterior of the packing box.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the bottom plate 15 of the storage box 14 isdisposed on the upper lining 4 so that the entire bottom plate isinclined at a prescribed angle α within a range of e.g. from 0° to 5°(preferably about 2°) to the upper lining 4 with one apex (corner) Pamong four corners being the lowest point. Accordingly, in thisembodiment, the respective vibration dampers 17 are interposed betweenthe bottom plate 15 and the upper lining 4 so that their respectivethicknesses are different as shown in FIG. 1. Here, the inclination ofthe bottom plate 15 may be 0° (i.e. no inclination), if positionaldisplacement of the plate materials in a transverse direction can beprevented by making the bottom plate 15 to have a convex shape, asdescribed hereinafter.

Thus, by having the bottom plate 15 inclined at a prescribed angle α tothe upper lining 4, in the stacked state of the plate materials, theindividual plate materials G will abut against two side plates 16 a and16 b constituting the apex P, whereby the plate materials G will bestably held against a vibration in a transverse direction, anddisplacement among the plate materials will be corrected.

In this connection, as shown in FIG. 5, among four side plates 16 a to16 d surrounding the bottom plate 15 from four directions, the two sideplates 16 a and 16 b constituting the apex P as the lowest point will befixed to the bottom plate 15 as they are, while the side plates 16 c and16 d located at both sides of the apex Po located on the opposite sideon the diagonal line of the apex P will be attached to the bottom plate15 or another member (such as the forward end of a rod of an aircylinder, not shown) so that they are slidable on the bottom plate 15.Namely, the side plates 16 a and 16 b are fixed side plates, and theside plates 16 c and 16 d are movable side plates. Therefore, the widthsof the side plates 16 c and 16 d are smaller than the side plates 16 aand 16 b, respectively.

It is thereby possible to enlarge the area to receive plate materials onthe bottom plate 15 by temporarily separating the side plates 16 c and16 d from the opposing side plates 16 b and 16 a, for example, whenplate materials G are loaded on the bottom plate 15 or when platematerials G are unloaded from the bottom plate 15, whereby the glassloading operation or the glass unloading operation can be facilitated.Further, in a state where the loading of plate materials has beencompleted, the movable side plates 16 c and 16 d will be maintained insuch a state as abutted against the side surfaces of plate materials G,so that the individual plate materials G will not move in the storagebox 14 during the transportation.

Here, when the bottom plate 15 is inclined, the apex P is made to be thelowest point in the above embodiment. However, two points of P and P₁may, for example, be made to be the lowest points. However, with a viewto facilitating alignment of the position of plate materials G, it ispreferred that the apex at the lowest point is only one.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.

This embodiment is one wherein cushion materials 25 are disposed betweenthe side plates 16 a, 16 c and 16 d and the plate materials G stored inthe storage box 14. In this case, for example, when a bottom plate 15 isinclined with an apex P being the lowest point as in the above-describedFIG. 5, plate materials G are loaded as abutted against the side plate16 b, and cushion materials 25 are disposed along the rest of threesides.

Otherwise, as mentioned above, two points of apexes P and P₁ are made tobe the lowest points (i.e. the side plate 16 b is made to be the sideplate at the lowest position), and plate materials G are loaded asabutted against this side plate 16 b, and cushion materials 25 will beprovided at the side plates 16 a, 16 c and 16 d along the rest of threesides.

FIG. 8 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment is one wherein side frames 5 along four sides of anupper cover 2 are fixed on a pedestal 3, and a top plate 6 is madeseparable from the side frames 5, so that at the time of packing orunpacking, only the top plate 6 is removed from the pedestal 3 to makethe upper side of the pedestal 3 open, so that the plate materials G maybe loaded or unloaded. In such a case, among side plates 16 a to 16 d ofthe storage box 14, only the side plate 16 b is provided, and sideplates 16 a, 16 c and 16 d along other three sides are omitted. And, thebottom plate 15 is inclined with the above-described two apexes P and P₁(FIG. 5) being the lowest point. Here, plate materials G are abuttedagainst the side plate 16 b located at the lowest position to attain thepositioning on the bottom plate 15, and cushion materials 25 areprovided between the remaining three sides and the side frames 5 fixedto the pedestal 3 thereby to resiliently secure the plate materials G.By such a construction, the construction of the storage box 14 can besimplified.

FIGS. 9(A) and (B) are views illustrating the shape of a plate materialstorage box having a bottom plate recessed. The bottom plate 15 may beformed as curved slightly in a concave shape in the short side directionor in the long side direction, or in the short side and long sidedirections, of the plate glass, with a curvature of e.g. a radius beingfrom 10 m to 25 m, taking into consideration the deflection of theentire plate materials to be loaded (by their own weight). It is therebypossible to prevent the plate materials G put on the bottom plate 15from displacement by a vibration in a transverse direction and to holdthem stably. The direction in which the curvature is formed, isparticularly preferably the short side direction.

Plate materials G to be stored are large size plate materials havinge.g. a thickness of from 0.5 mm to 1.3 mm and a size of from about 1,400mm×1,700 mm to 2,400 mm×2,800 mm. Further, at the time of flatlystacking them in the storage box 14, they are preferably stacked in sucha state that inserting paper sheets 18 are interposed between the platematerials in order to avoid direct contact of the plate materials G withone another. The inserting paper sheets 18 preferably have a roughenedsurface having a smoothness of at most 18 seconds (JIS P-8119, 1976) tominimize the contact area and preferably have a paper quality to avoidtransfer of a resin content in the inserting paper sheets 18 to theplate materials G to form paper skin pattern, burn marks or soiling onthe glass surface. Namely, the resin content of the inserting papersheets 18 is preferably at most 0.05% (JIS P-8205, 1976), and the paperquality is such that by the composite effects with the above-mentionedpaper surface roughness, no adverse effects will be given to the qualityof the plate materials G themselves.

The plate materials G stacked on the bottom plate 15 in such a manner,are resiliently held down by cushion materials 20 such as air bagsprovided on the lower surface side of the top plate, so that they willnot vibrate up and down on the bottom plate 15 during thetransportation. As a result, the storage box 14 containing platematerials G will be supported in a floating state by cushion materials20 from above and by vibration dampers 17 from below, whereby the platematerials G will be held in a stabilized state even if a shock isexerted from the exterior during the transportation of the packing boxesor even if the packing boxes themselves undergo vibration up and downduring the transportation.

As described in the foregoing, in the packing box 1 of this embodiment,a plurality of large size plate materials G can be stored stably in aflatly stacked state. Further, their transportation is carried out insuch a state that such packing boxes 1 are stacked one on another as theplate materials G are flatly loaded in the respective boxes. Bytransporting large size plate materials in a flatly stacked state inthis manner, they can be easily and efficiently stored in e.g. a storageroom having a low ceiling, and a number of plate materials can betransported stably by various transportation means.

At the time of loading plate materials G on such a packing box 1 or atthe time of unloading plate materials G from the packing box 1 after thetransportation, the packing box 1 may be lifted so that the storage box14 of the packing box 1 will have a prescribed angle of from 0° to 90°,preferably from 75° to 85°, to the horizontal plane.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an erection table to have the packingbox 1 put thereon and to lift it at a prescribed angle, and FIGS. 11(a)and (b) are views illustrating the state of use of such an erectiontable.

The erection table 21 is a L-shape member constituted by a large tableportion 22 and a small table portion 23 vertically standing from one endof the large table portion 22. Such an erection table 21 is provided ata position to load or unload prescribed plate materials G on the path ofa chain conveyer comprising chains C. The large table portion 22 and thesmall table portion 23 are provided with two parallel grooves 24 to letchains C of the conveyer pass therethrough along the direction fortransportation of the packing box.

During the transportation by the chain conveyer, when the packing box 1reached the erection table 21 with the large table portion 22 being in ahorizontal state, it abuts against the small table portion 23 as shownin FIG. 11(a) and it is maintained. Thereafter, the erection table 21 islifted as shown in FIG. 11(b) (by arrow D). This lifted angle isoptionally adjustable within a range of from horizontal to substantiallyright angle. This lifted angle is adjusted to the optimum angle so thatthe operation by a robot for loading or unloading of the plate materialscan be smoothly carried out.

When such an erection table is used for the operation of loading orunloading plate materials in a state where the packing box 1 is erectedfrom the horizontal state, handling of the plate materials G themselvesis simple as compared with a case where the plate materials G are takenout from the packing box 1 in a horizontal state or as compared with acase where plate materials G are overlaid afresh on the plate materialsG in the storage box 14, and it is possible to easily unload platematerials G from the storage box 14 or to easily load plate materials Gto the storage box 14 even by a robot or manpower. Further, the platematerial loading or unloading method to load or unload plate materialsis such a state that the packing box is lifted to stand erect, presentsa less load to the plate materials G and thus reduces the possibility ofdamages to glass.

As described in the foregoing, the plate material packing box of thepresent invention comprises a plate material storage box capable ofhaving a plurality of large size plate materials put thereon in a flatlystacked state, and vibration dampers to absorb vibrations withfrequencies within a prescribed range beneath the plate material storagebox, whereby a plurality of large size plate materials can betransported in a stabilized state where vibrations from the exterior arescarcely transmitted to the plate materials. Further, such platematerial packing boxes are presupposed to be transported in asubstantially horizontally flatly stacked state. Accordingly, ascompared with the conventional vertically stacked transportation mode, asufficient loading efficiency can be presented to a transportingvehicle, and at the same time, they can be stored without trouble evenin a storage room narrow in the height direction such as in an airplane.

The packing box of the present invention can be used in such a mannerthat plate materials are packed and transported, and after thetransportation, unpacked to take out the plate materials, whereupon theempty packing box may be re-used as it is. Such re-use may be repeatedmany times.

FIG. 12 illustrates another packing box according to the presentinvention, and FIG. 13 is a top view thereof. As illustrated, thepacking box 1 comprises a pedestal 3 and a storage box 14. The pedestal3 is one wherein a plurality of I-beam frame materials 9 formed by anextruded material made of e.g. an aluminum alloy, are assembledlengthwise and crosswise in a lattice-like arrangement to form a frame,and on an upper side of this frame, an upper lining 4 is fixed and on alower side, a lower lining 10 is fixed. Here, the pedestal 3 may beformed by assembling materials such as angular pipes other than theI-beam frame materials 9 to form a frame.

At four corners of the pedestal 3, pillar members 31 (stacking membersin Claims) are provided as projecting upwardly. On the top surfaces ofthe pillar members 31, shock absorbing pads 7 are bonded, and guidemembers 8 are attached thereon. Such guide members 8 are inserted andfit in openings 11 provided at lower surfaces of the pillar members 31,whereby a plurality of packing boxes 1 can be stacked (FIG. 19). Here,fixing of the pillar members 31 to the pedestal 3 may be reinforced bymeans of e.g. angle members (not shown), etc. Further, the pillar member31 may not necessarily be a pillar-shaped member, but may be awall-shaped member formed along one side on the pedestal 3.

The storage box 14 is put on an upper lining 4 of the pedestal 3 viavibration dampers. The vibration dampers consist of shrink absorbers 32and stretch absorbers 33, and it is thereby possible to reduce theup-and-down vibration of the plate materials G during thetransportation. The plate materials G are put on the bottom plate 15 ofthe storage box 14. The side walls of the storage box 14 are constitutedby a fixed side plate 34, a movable side plate 35 and hold-down rolls36, and the hold-down rolls 36 and the bottom plate 15 are designed topinch inserting paper sheets 18 to be interposed between the platematerials G. After storage of the plate materials G, the storage box 14will be covered by a cover 42, whereby deposition of dust on the platematerials G can be prevented. In FIG. 13, the cover 42 is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 13, the side plates 34 and 35 are provided along theopposing long sides of the rectangular bottom plate 15 of the storagebox 14. Two hold-down rolls 36 are provided on each of the opposingshort sides. The bottom plate 15 is bent in a V-shape as shown in FIG.12, and the bending line D (FIGS. 13 and 15) along the apex of theV-shape is in parallel with the long sides of the bottom plate 15.

The pillar members 31 at the four corners of the pedestal 3 are providedwith triangular or rectangular reinforcing walls 31 a (triangular inthis embodiment) along the sides of the pedestal.

FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of the plate material packingbox.

In this embodiment, pillar members 31 are provided on the upper surfaceof the upper lining 4 of the pedestal 3, and openings 11 are formed atfour corners of the lower lining 10. The rest of the construction is thesame as in the embodiment of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a plate material storage box, and FIG. 16is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the hold-down roll in astate where the plate materials are stored.

As described above, the storage box 14 comprises a bottom plate 15, afixed side plate 34, a movable side plate 35 and hold-down rolls 36. Themovable side plate 35 can be turned in the direction of arrow R to thebottom plate 15 with the lower side of the side plate being the axis.The hold-down rolls 36 are movable in an up-and-down direction to thebottom plate 15. When plate materials G are to be stored in the platematerial storage box 14, a plate material G is put on the bottom plate15 by abutting one side of the plate material G against the fixed sideplate 34 in a state where the movable side plate 35 is moved down. Then,an inserting paper sheet 18 is put on the plate material G, and anotherplate material G is put thereon. After a predetermined number of platematerials G are flatly stacked, the movable side plate 35 is moved backto stand erect. Then, the hold-down rolls 36 are lowered (arrow F), theinserting paper sheets 18 protruding from the plate materials G arepinched by the hold-down rolls 36 and the bottom plate 15, whereby theplate materials G are secured by the hold-down rolls 36 via theinserting paper sheets 18. It is thereby possible to prevent by thehold-down rolls 36 the up-and-down movement of the plate materials G byvibration. Further, it is possible to prevent the plate materials G fromdisplacement in a transverse direction. Here, the hold-down rolls 36 mayhave any shape such as a column shape, so long as it is a shape capableof holding-down the inserting paper sheets.

When hold-down rolls having a roll diameter larger than the height ofthe stacked plate materials G, are used, it is possible to certainlyprevent the plate materials G from displacement in a transversedirection.

Instead of the turning type movable side plate 35, the movable sideplate may be made to be slidable in the direction of arrow B as shown inthe above-described FIG. 5. By providing such a movable side plate 35,the opening area of the bottom plate 15 will be broadened, whereby theoperation for loading the plate materials G will be facilitated.Further, after loading the plate materials G, when the movable sideplate 35 is returned to the initial position, it is preferred to havesuch a dimensional shape so that it pushes the plate materials G towardsthe fixed side plate 34 via the inserting paper sheets protruding fromthe plate materials G. Accordingly, also the size of the inserting papersheets is preferably such a size that they protrude to the directions ofthree sides i.e. the opposing two short sides and the long side providedwith the movable side plate 35, against the plate materials G.

The bottom plate 15 is bent in a V-shape, and its bending line D isparallel with the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 15. Insteadof the bottom plate bent in a V-shape, a downwardly convex curved bottomplate may be employed. Also in such a case, the curvature surface ispreferably formed along short sides (i.e. the generating line of thecurvature is in parallel with the long sides). As the bottom plate 15 ismade to have a recessed shape in such a manner, it is possible to mountplate materials G stably and to prevent the plate materials G fromdisplacing obliquely to the actual direction during the transportation.The angle of such a V-shape is preferably at least 160° and less than180°, more preferably at least 170° and at most 176°. The bottom plate15 is disposed preferably so that it is generally horizontal to thepedestal 3, but it may be inclined so that one side will be lower asdescribed above (FIG. 6).

FIGS. 17(A) and (B) illustrate an embodiment of the vibration absorber.FIG. 17(A) is a cross-sectional view of a shrink absorber, and FIG.17(B) is a cross-sectional view of a stretch absorber.

The shrink absorber 32 is constructed in such a manner that a resilientjell material 38 is attached via metal plates 39 to brackets 37processed by bending and fixed to the bottom plate 15 and the upperlining 4 by screws 43. The jell material 38 and the metal plates 39 arebonded by e.g. an adhesive, and the brackets 37 are bonded or fixed byintegrally formed bolts 40 to the metal plates 39.

The stretch absorber 33 is constructed in such a manner that a resilientjell material 38 is attached via metal plates 39 between two brackets 41having a roughly

-shaped cross-section and fixed to the bottom plate 15 and the upperlining 4 by screws 43. The jell material 38 and the metal plates 39 arebonded by e.g. an adhesive, and the brackets 37 are bonded or fixed byintegrally formed bolts 40 to the metal plates 39.

Such shrink absorbers 32 and stretch absorbers 33 are regularly disposedsubstantially over the entire lower surface of the bottom plate 15. Itis thereby possible to suppress the up-and-down vibration of the storagebox 14 caused by swinging of the pedestal 3 due to a vibration duringthe transportation. Namely, in the case of FIG. 17(A), when compressionis exerted between the bottom plate 15 and the upper lining 4 (arrowsF₁), the jell material 38 is compressed to provide an effective cushioneffect. In the case of FIG. 17(B), when extension is exerted between thebottom plate 15 and the upper lining 4 (arrows F₂), the jell material 38is compressed to provide an effective cushion effect. In either case,the jell material 38 itself is compressed to provide a cushion effect.Instead of such a jell material 38, an elastic material such as acompression rubber or a compression spring material made of e.g. metalmay be employed. Otherwise, an elastic body having an elasticity againsta tensile force may also be employed.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view illustrating the junction between a guidemember and an opening, and FIG. 19 is a schematic view when packingboxes are stacked.

As shown, the guide member 8 provided with a shock absorbing pad 7 on apillar member 31 is inserted and fit in the opening 11 formed on thelower surface of the pillar member 31 of a packing box put thereon. Asthe guide member 8 is fit in the opening 11 in such a manner, aplurality of packing boxes 1 may be stacked (three layers in FIG. 19).Even if the packing boxes 1 are swayed by e.g. a vibration during thetransportation, the shock absorbing pads 7 provided between therespective packing boxes 1 will ease such swaying and will further easethe vibration of plate materials G.

FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of the plate material storage boxaccording to the present invention. This storage box 14 is one whereinhold-down plates 50 pressing plate materials G from their side surfaces,are provided along the respective four sides of a rectangular bottomplate 15. The size of the plate materials G is substantially the samesize as the bottom plate 15.

Each hold-down plate 50 is mounted on the bottom plate 15 detachably oropenable as it falls down outside, via one or more attaching portions55.

The hold-down plates 50 may be provided in such a manner that onehold-down plate corresponding to the length of each side of therectangular bottom plate 15 may be provided, or two or more shorthold-down plates may be provided along each side.

FIGS. 21(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views of the hold-down plateportion of the plate material storage box of FIG. 20.

A plurality of plate materials G are put on the bottom plate 15 ashorizontally stacked. Inserting paper sheets 18 are interposed betweenthe respective plate materials G.

FIG. 21(A) illustrates an embodiment wherein inserting paper sheets 18protruding from the side surfaces of the plate materials G are directlyheld down by the hold-down plate 50. The hold-down plate 50 presses theplate materials G having substantially the same size as the bottom plate15, from their side surfaces, via the protruded end portions of theinserting paper sheets 18, in combination with the bottom plate 15. Theoverlap portions at the protruded end portions of the inserting papersheets 18 are held-down by the hold-down plate 50, whereby the hold-downplate 50 will not directly contact the side surfaces of the platematerials G, and due to the flexibility of the inserting paper sheets,the stacked assembly of plate materials G can certainly be secured bypressing it from the four side surfaces, while the plate materials G areprotected.

FIG. 21(B) illustrates an embodiment wherein the inserting paper sheets18 protruding from the side surfaces of the plate materials G areheld-down by the hold-down plate 50 via a cushion material 51. Thehold-down plate 50 presses the plate materials G having substantiallythe same size as the bottom plate 15, from their side surfaces via acushion material 51 and the protruded end portions of the insertingpaper sheets 18. By the interposition of the cushion material 51, thestacked assembly of plate materials can certainly be secured by pressingthe side surfaces of the plate materials uniformly and stably inaccordance with the shape of the side surfaces by absorbingnon-uniformity in the shape of the overlapped portions of the endportions of the inserting paper sheets or by absorbing non-uniformity ofthe end portions of the plate materials G.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the construction ofthe hold-down plate-attaching portion. This embodiment of the attachingportion 55 has a construction wherein the hold-down plate 50 is madedetachable from the bottom plate 15. On the rear surface of thehold-down plate 50, a pillar 52 is fixed. This pillar 52 is insertedinto a pillar bearing 53 provided at the side edge of the bottom plate15, so that the press-down plate 50 is attached to the bottom plate 15.It is thereby possible that when a plate material is loaded on orunloaded from the bottom plate 15, the hold-down plate 50 may beseparated from the bottom plate 15, so that the side surface of theplate material is released, whereby the operation for loading orunloading can smoothly be carried out. Here, the pillar bearings 53 areprovided with a proper distance from the side surface of the end portionof the bottom plate 15.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the constructionof the hold-down plate-attaching portion. This embodiment of theattaching portion 55 has a construction wherein the hold-down plate 50is made openable (arrow F) as it falls down outside to the bottom plate15. On the rear surface of the hold-down plate 50, a pillar 52 is fixed.This pillar 52 is attached pivotally about the spindle 54 to the bracket56 formed on the side edge of the bottom plate 15. It is therebypossible that at the time of loading a plate material on the bottomplate 15 or unloading it therefrom, the hold-down plate 50 is permittedto fall-down outside of the bottom plate 15 to release the side surfaceof the plate material, whereby the operation for loading or unloadingcan be smoothly carried out. Here, the bracket 56 is provided with aproper distance from the side surface of the end portion of the bottomplate 15.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As an application example of the present invention, not only plateglass, but all products may be stored in the packing box of the presentinvention so long as they are plate materials which can be flatlystacked, and yet, vibration absorbers are disposed below the platematerial storage box, whereby the products can be protected fromvibration or shock during their transportation. However, the presentinvention is particularly effective for plate glass, taking intoconsideration that large size thin plate materials can thereby betransported stably and efficiently.

The entire disclosures of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-216475filed on Jul. 23, 2004 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-047131filed on Feb. 23, 2005 including specifications, claims, drawings andsummaries are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

1. A plate material packing box comprising a pedestal having an upperlining, a plate material storage box put on the pedestal, and an uppercover enclosing the plate material storage box on the pedestal and beingdetachable from the pedestal, wherein the plate material storage box isan upwardly open support having a bottom plate to have a plurality ofplate materials put thereon in a substantially horizontally stackedstate, and side plates along four sides of its periphery; the uppercover is a downwardly open box having a top plate covering the uppersurface of the plate material storage box and side frames along foursides of its periphery; a vibration damper is interposed between thepedestal and the bottom plate; and is a cushion material is installedbetween the top plate and the plate materials put on the bottom plate.2. A plate material packing box comprising a pedestal having an upperlining, a plate material storage box put on the pedestal, side framesfixed along the periphery of the plate material storage box on thepedestal, and an upper cover detachable from the side frames, whereinthe plate material storage box is an upwardly open support having abottom plate to have a plurality of plate materials put thereon in asubstantially horizontally stacked state, and a side plate providedalong one side of its periphery; the upper cover is a top plate coveringthe upper surface of the plate material storage box; a vibration damperis interposed between the pedestal and the bottom plate; and a cushionmaterial is installed between the top plate and the plate materials puton the bottom plate.
 3. The plate material packing box according toclaim 1, wherein the bottom plate is formed to have a rectangular shapeand inclined at a prescribed angle to the upper surface of the pedestalwith one or two corners thereof being at the lowest point.
 4. The platematerial packing box according to claim 2, wherein the bottom plate isformed to have a rectangular shape and inclined at a prescribed angle tothe upper surface of the pedestal with one or two corners thereof beingat the lowest point.
 5. The plate material packing box according toclaim 1, wherein the bottom plate has a surface curved in a concaveshape to have the plate materials put thereon.
 6. The plate materialpacking box according to claim 2, wherein the bottom plate has a surfacecurved in a concave shape to have the plate materials put thereon. 7.The plate material packing box according to claim 1, wherein the bottomplate is downwardly curved or bent in a convex shape.
 8. The platematerial packing box according to claim 2, wherein the bottom plate isdownwardly curved or bent in a convex shape.
 9. The plate materialpacking box according to claim 1, which has a positioning means to setthe position of another plate material packing box to be put on the topplate, wherein the positioning means comprises a plurality of guidemembers projecting upwardly from the top plate and fixed to the topplate, and a plurality of openings formed at the pedestal to engage withsuch guide members.
 10. The plate material packing box according toclaim 2, which has a positioning means to set the position of anotherplate material packing box to be put on the top plate, wherein thepositioning means comprises a plurality of guide members projectingupwardly from the top plate and fixed to the top plate, and a pluralityof openings formed at the pedestal to engage with such guide members.11. A plate material transporting method which comprises stacking aplurality of plate materials in the plate material storage box of theplate material packing box as defined in claim 1 and transporting theplate materials.
 12. A plate material transporting method whichcomprises stacking a plurality of plate materials in the plate materialstorage box of the plate material packing box as defined in claim 2 andtransporting the plate materials.
 13. A plate material loading orunloading method which comprises, in such a state that the upper coverof the plate material packing box as defined in claim 1 is removed,lifting the plate material packing box so that the bottom plate be at aprescribed angle to the horizontal plane, and loading a plurality ofplate materials in the plate material storage box or unloading suchplate materials from the plate material storage box.
 14. A platematerial loading or unloading method which comprises, in such a statethat the upper cover of the plate material packing box as defined inclaim 2 is removed, lifting the plate material packing box so that thebottom plate be at a prescribed angle to the horizontal plane, andloading a plurality of plate materials in the plate material storage boxor unloading such plate materials from the plate material storage box.15. A plate material packing box comprising a pedestal having an upperlining, a plate material storage box put on the pedestal, and avibration damper interposed between the pedestal and the plate materialstorage box, wherein the plate material storage box comprises arectangular bottom plate to have a plurality of plate materials putthereon in a horizontally stacked state, side plates provided alongmutually opposing two sides of the bottom plate and inserting paperhold-down rolls provided along other mutually opposing two sides of thebottom plate; the bottom plate is downwardly curved or bent in a convexshape, and the bending line at the apex of the bent surface or thegenerating line of the curved surface is in parallel with the sideplates; the pedestal is provided with a positioning means for stackingplate material packing boxes.
 16. The plate material packing boxaccording to claim 15, wherein the side plates are provided along thelong sides of the bottom plate; one side plate is fixed to the bottomplate; and the other side plate is rotatably or separably hinged to thebottom plate so that the side provided with this side plate is openableand closable.
 17. The plate material packing box according to claim 15,wherein stacking members consisting of pillars or walls are installed onthe pedestal around the plate material storage box, and the positioningmeans comprises guide members provided at upper ends of the stackingmembers and openings provided on the bottom surface side of the pedestalto engage with the guide members.
 18. The plate material packing boxaccording to claim 15, wherein the vibration damper comprises a stretchabsorber and a shrink absorber, and the stretch absorber and the shrinkabsorber are provided as regularly distributed over the entire lowersurface of the bottom plate.
 19. A plate material transporting methodwhich comprises stacking a plurality of plate materials in the platematerial storage box of the plate material packing box as defined inclaim 15 and transporting the plate materials.
 20. A plate materialpacking box comprising a pedestal having an upper lining, a platematerial storage box put on the pedestal, and a vibration damperinterposed between the pedestal and the plate material storage box,wherein the plate material storage box comprises a rectangular bottomplate to have a plurality of plate materials put thereon in ahorizontally stacked state via inserting paper sheets, and hold-downplates are provided along the respective four sides of the bottom plateto press the plate materials from their side surfaces via insertingpaper sheets protruding from the plate materials.
 21. The plate materialpacking box according to claim 20, wherein each hold-down plate isdetachable from the bottom plate or openable as it falls down outside ofthe bottom plate.
 22. The plate material packing box according to claim20, wherein a cushion material is provided between the inserting papersheets and the hold-down plates.